Chapter 7 - The NICU and the ICU
Ethan stood on his tiptoes, looking through the plastic incubator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Inside lay a tiny, red-faced baby wrapped in a pink and blue striped blanket. Wires were attached to her small chest, but her chest rose and fell steadily.
“Her name is Lily,” Mark whispered, standing behind Ethan with his hands on the boy’s shoulders.
Ethan reached his hand through the port hole. Gently, he rested his index finger against the baby’s palm. Instantly, Lily’s tiny fingers curled around his.
Ethan gasped. “She’s holding on.”
“She knows her big brother is here,” Mark smiled, though his eyes were wet.
But the joy was tempered by the floor below them.
In the ICU, Rachel lay perfectly still. The steady beep... beep... beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room. Ethan sat in a chair beside her bed, holding the letter she had written him.
He reached out and took her pale, limp hand.
“I read it,” Ethan whispered to her. “I read the letter. I’m sorry I threw away the muffins. I’m sorry I ignored you. Please wake up, Rachel. Lily needs you. Dad needs you.”
May you like
He squeezed her hand.
“I need you.”
